The current plans for the upgrade of the Pacific Highway in NSW may destroy a critical koala colony in Ballina. IFAW is supporting local group Friends of the Koala and others to stop the bulldozers and make the Pacific Highway koala-friendly.

The proposed route would run straight through the middle of a nationally significant koala population in the Blackwall Range wildlife corridor, known to be a linchpin colony, and vital for the survival of coastal koalas. This wildlife hotspot is also home to another 30 threatened or endangered species that will also be put at risk.

There are a number of alternative routes the highway could take that would avoid killing koalas and other wildlife.

The Blackwall Range is home to a "nationally significant" koala population and many other threatened or endangered species. Ballina Council recently commissioned a Koala Habitat Study, which found that the proposed Pacific Highway Upgrade route would bisect the koala colony and has been identified as a "key threatening process", if it was to go ahead.

The Blackwall Range koalas have been found to be a "source population" for koalas in other parts of the Northern Rivers and therefore they must be saved to protect this iconic species in Northern New South Wales.

There are a number of alternative routes for the highway that don't impact on the koalas or the Blackwall Range. The upgrade of the highway is important but should not impact upon this important natural area.

[Your comments here]

The route of the Pacific Highway upgrade needs to be reassessed. I urge you to do all you can to have the Blackwall Range protected by ensuring that the highway upgrade avoids this known biodiversity hotspot.